Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and ambitious workforce leader to join Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as our Deputy Chief People Officer.
Reporting directly to the Chief People Officer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering our People Strategy, ensuring we have a sustainable, skilled, engaged and high-performing workforce capable of delivering outstanding care to our patients. The role provides strategic leadership across a broad portfolio of workforce services, including HR Business Partnering, Employee Relations, Recruitment and Retention, Workforce Planning, Workforce Governance and Temporary Staffing.
As a key member of the People Directorate senior leadership team, you will work closely with Executive Directors, clinical leaders, system partners and staff-side representatives to deliver workforce transformation, organisational development and continuous improvement programmes. You will be responsible for developing innovative workforce solutions, influencing strategic decision-making and driving a positive staff experience across the Trust.
Main duties of the job
The Deputy Chief People Officer will provide strategic and operational leadership for key workforce functions, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, innovative and customer-focused HR services across the Trust.
Key responsibilities include:
- Support the Chief People Officer in delivering the Trust’s People Strategy and workforce priorities.
- Provide strategic leadership for workforce services, including HR Business Partnering, Employee Relations, Recruitment, Retention, Workforce Planning and Workforce Governance.
- Lead the development and delivery of workforce strategies that support high-quality patient care, workforce sustainability and organisational performance.
- Act as a trusted adviser to Executive Directors, senior leaders and clinicians on complex workforce and organisational development matters.
- Lead workforce transformation, service redesign and organisational change programmes across the Trust.
- Ensure effective workforce planning, talent management, succession planning and workforce deployment arrangements are in place.
- Build effective partnerships with staff-side representatives, system partners and external stakeholders.
- Oversee workforce governance, statutory reporting, budgets, contracts and commissioned services.
- Deputise for the Chief People Officer and represent the Trust at Board, system and external meetings as required.
- Champion an inclusive, compassionate and high-performing culture where colleagues are empowered to thrive.
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Masters Degree in Human Resources Management or related field, or equivalent
- Chartered Fellow of Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
Desirable
- Additional Specialist Qualification e.g., Coaching, or psychometric testing
- Management Qualification/Evidence of study in strategic business planning, project management, information, or related discipline
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Substantial and extensive experience of working at a senior level across a broad range of HR functions
- Demonstrable experience of working with senior leaders across organisational boundaries, and influencing strategy and delivery
- Experience of delivering revenue and workforce elements of major change and capital investment programmes
- Experience of delivering cost improvement schemes
- Experience of budgetary and resource management
- Experience of developing and delivering strategy
- Substantial experience of change management and delivery, re- designing of teams and new ways of working to meet strategic objectives and to increase workforce productivity and efficiency.
- Experience of developing integrated workforce plans as part of wider business planning activities
- Contract commissioning and management
- Motivating and developing a team
- Operational experience within a large complex organisation
Desirable
- Demonstrable NHS experience
- Managing an equality / inclusion function
- Knowledge and or experience in Occupational Health
- Knowledge and or experience in automation and robotics ideally within a corporate service
Skills and Ability
Essential
- In-depth knowledge of current HR and workforce legislation and best practice
- Understanding of workforce planning tools and techniques
- Understand of the benefits and challenges of managing shared services
- Competent in the theory and application of OD tools and techniques
- Understanding of the governance agenda (both clinical and non-clinical)
- Ability to prioritise and manage demanding workloads, planning towards, and focusing on deadlines
- Ability to influence, persuade and negotiate both within the organisation and externally to include other organisations
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to drive improvement through coaching and performance management
- Ability to challenge ways of working and facilitate change
- Personal resilience in the face of challenge and able to deliver high quality work under pressure
Desirable
- Knowledge of emerging system responsibilities/ structures for the Health and Social Care workforce
- Knowledge of the NHS financial regime
- Understanding of the context in which NHS HR services are provided
Closing Date: 13 September 2026
To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.